I have a soft spot for intricate paper art, and hardly does it get more intricate and beautiful than in the work of British artist Rob Ryan, whose papercuts and screen prints are imbued with a kind of whimsy to which the screen does little justice. His new book, A Sky Full of Kindness, captures this delicate analog magic through a narrative crafted entirely out of exquisite cut-paper illustrations that whisper to you pithy, poetic words to make your heart smile. It tells the story of a few adventurous birds, but it’s really a story about love, overcoming fear, and being human. A follow-up to Ryan’s equally delightful 2009 gem, This Is For You, the slim but infinitely delightful tome is as much a work of a work of art as it is an homage to the beauty and poetry of paper books.
Ryan’s work is also on Etsy and the fine folks there have put together this lovely short film about him, part of their excellent Handmade Portraits series:
We’re all the same people we were when we were children, we’re just bigger, and pretend that we’re not.”
One of the most poetic artworks from the book is also available as a screenprint on Etsy:
Simon Lewin over in the UK has a wonderful Instagram sneak peek of the book itself:
Part Live Now in spirit, part The Night Life of Trees in analog whimsy, and entirely original at its heart, A Sky Full of Kindness is a rare piece of visual philosophy bound to make you glow on the inside.
